Carers Week 2026
The Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board is supporting Carers Week 2026. The week aims to highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
What is a carer?
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older. It isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support.
Young carers are children and young people who take on caring responsibilities for a family member with a long-term illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse issue.
For Carers Week 2026, we’re highlighting the power of building carer friendly communities – and the difference they can make to carers’ lives. For more information, visit the Carers Week website.
Support services for carers and young carers
Visit the Information for carers page to find different services available to carers and young carers within Kent and Medway.
Get involved!
You can help people to understand their role as a carer and how to access support by following these four steps:
- Promote the 'Information for carers' page to members of the public and within meetings/forums
- Share social media messages (email KMSAB@kent.gov.uk for access to the content plan)
- Host events, big or small!
- Let us know of your valued contribution by completing the agency activity form.